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Officials more concerned about event time than safety: inquest

Meg PurtellUpdated
Thu 3 Mar 2011, 7:53 AM AEDT

Photo

Saxon Bird died during a competition on Queensland's Gold Coast on March 19 last year.

AAP Image/Surf Life Saving Australia - file image

A coronial inquiry into the death of Sydney lifesaver Saxon Bird at last year's national titles on the Gold Coast in Queensland has been told that officials seemed more concerned with finishing events than with safety.

Mr Bird, 19, died during the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa beach at Broadbeach in March last year.

A Brisbane coronial inquiry into his death has heard Mr Bird, who was competing in the event for his Queenscliff surf lifesaving club in Sydney, was hit in the head with a surf ski.

Giving evidence today, Australian champion Christopher Allan said surf conditions at Kurrawa were rough but manageable for the under 19 and open competitors.

He told the hearing he got the impression safety was being pushed back because events were behind time.

Mr Allan also said he was one of the first in the water to search for Mr Bird and "knew they were looking for a body".

It took almost an hour to locate Mr Bird's body.

Queensland coroner Michael Barnes is investigating Mr Bird's death.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Peter Johns, said Mr Bird's death happened as officials contemplated suspending competition and the adequacy of risk management would be one of the issues considered by the inquest.